Top Filipina volleyball player Jaja Santiago has admitted that she is keen on accepting the offer to be a naturalized player of Saitama Ageo Medics in Japan.
Just this March, Santiago made history as the very first Filipina volleybelle who won in a foreign league after the Ageo Medics clinched the title in the 2021 Japan V-Cup in Tokyo.
In an interview with PTV Sports, the 25-year-old middle blocker revealed the merits of being a naturalized player in Japan.
“‘Yong dating 50/50, ngayon nagiging 60-65. Umaangat. Tumataas kasi nakikita ko ‘yong pagmamahal ng mga kapwa ko Pilipino sa akin. Para sa akin kasi, wala pa ako roon sa level nila. Hindi ko masabi kung nasaan na akong level, pero gusto ko pang kumuha ng mga experience para matapatan ko sina KYK, Zhu Ting. ‘Yun ‘yong gusto ko na experience para ma-dominate itong liga,” Santiago explained.
[What used to be 50/50, is now 60/65. It is going up because I see how my fellow Filipinos show their love for me. For me, I have not reached their level yet. I cannot say what level I am, but I want to gain more experience to have equal footing with KYK, Zhu Ting. That is the kind of experience I want in order to dominate the league.]
Santiago also has praise for the system of volleyball in Japan where she is continuously learning.
“Unang-una siguro ‘yong sistema na mayroon ang Japan. ‘Yong disiplina nila, kung paano sila mag-prepare towards the game, paano nila alagaan nila ‘yong sarili nila, tapos ipapasok natin ‘yong mga skills na natutunan ko, ishe-share. Magiging example ako para mapakita ko ‘yong best ko, ‘yong mga nakuha ko sa Japan [First of all, it may be the system they have in Japan. The kind of discipline they have, how they prepare towards the game, how they take care of themselves, and then include the skills I have learned and will share. I would be an example to show my best and what I get from Japan],” Santiago continued.
While she still has obligations with Ageo Medics, Santiago said she will be playing with the Philippine volleyball team in the upcoming 2021 Southeast Asian Games which will be held in December in Hanoi, Vietnam. – Report by Mae Ann Fajardo/JBB-jlo
